An annual report by Amnesty International (AI) evaluating the observance of human rights in Slovakia for 2012 has stated that discrimination towards Roma is continuing. The non-governmental watchdog pointed mainly to segregation at schools, and to forcible evictions.
The report also noted that when military goods are exported from Slovakia, there are no guarantees that it respects international bans on exports to places where they can be used for violations of human rights, the TASR newswire reported. The report cited as examples from last year exports to countries like Algeria, Egypt, Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Uganda. According to the report on trade with defence industry products filed by the Slovak Economy Ministry, military goods were exported to all these places in 2012.
AI warns that discrimination against Roma is a long-term issue for which Slovakia was also criticised by the UN committee for economic, social and cultural rights (CESCR).
“The discrimination shows most evidently in the sphere of education, housing and access to health care,” spokesperson for the Slovak branch of AI Jana Vargovčíková told TASR. She said that in spite of some progress, the Education Ministry has remained passive, taking no steps to abolish segregation at schools and create a model of truly inclusive education.
As for health care, AIS noted in its report that the European Court for Human Rights (EHCR) in Strasbourg issued three verdicts in 2012 which condemned forced sterilisations of Roma women that have happened in Slovakia since 2000. Activities by regional and local government administrations to forcibly evict Roma living in illegal settlements are another grave violation of human rights, according to AIS.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
